North Korea has revised its constitution to stipulate a nuclear strike in the event of the death of its leader, Kim Jong-un, due to a foreign attack. This development was reported by The Telegraph, citing information from South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) disclosed during a closed briefing for government officials.
The amendments were approved during a session of the Supreme People’s Assembly held on March 22 in Pyongyang. According to the NIS, the changes were prompted by the recent assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and several of his close advisors in U.S.-Israeli strikes in Tehran.
The intelligence agency noted that Kim Jong-un oversees North Korea’s nuclear forces, and the constitutional modifications formalize the procedures for retaliatory attacks should he become incapacitated or die.
The revised Article 3 on nuclear policy states, “If the command and control system of the state’s nuclear forces is threatened due to attacks by hostile forces… a nuclear strike must be executed automatically and immediately.”
Andrei Lankov, a professor at Kookmin University in Seoul, indicated that the situation in Iran served as a warning sign for North Korea. He remarked, “Iran became a wake-up call. North Korea observed the extraordinary effectiveness of U.S.-Israeli strikes on leadership, which swiftly eliminated much of the Iranian command, and they are likely now alarmed.”
The Telegraph further noted that executing a similar operation targeting Kim and his inner circle would be considerably more challenging than the strikes in Iran, largely due to North Korea’s near-total isolation.
The borders of North Korea are effectively closed, and the few foreign diplomats, humanitarian workers, and businesspeople from “friendly” nations who enter the country are under strict surveillance, making it difficult to gather intelligence critical for a successful operation akin to that in Iran.
Israeli intelligence was able to accurately locate Iranian leaders following the hacking of traffic camera systems in Tehran, a tactic that would be difficult to replicate in Pyongyang due to limited surveillance systems and a tightly controlled network.
Reports indicate that Kim Jong-un is particularly concerned for his safety, often accompanied by guards, avoiding flights, and typically traveling by an armored train.
Professor Lankov believes that since the military is loyal to the North Korean leadership and views any attack on the country as an existential threat, officers responsible for executing a retaliatory nuclear strike would follow through with such orders.
He stated, “I do not see the likelihood of an attack from South Korea, so any retaliatory measures would be directed against the United States.”
Additionally, it has been reported that by the end of 2026, North Korea plans to deploy three divisions of new 155mm self-propelled howitzers near the border with South Korea, capable of reaching Seoul, which is located approximately 40 kilometers from the demilitarized zone.
Despite peace overtures from the South Korean government, Pyongyang has repeatedly labeled Seoul as its primary adversary and recently removed longstanding references to the reunification of Korea from its constitution.
North Korea's constitutional amendments now allow for a nuclear response if Kim Jong-un is killed in a foreign attack. This change follows the assassination of Iranian leaders and reflects heightened security concerns within the regime.